Resources for Students

Search for Special Collections Materials

Information about the holdings in Special Collections can be found in many formats, including finding aids, catalog records, and digital collections. Use the search box below to find materials that might be useful to your research.

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Archives & Great Lakes

Curriculum Resource Center

Music Library

Popular Culture Library

Finding Aids

General Information

If you've never done research in an archives or special collection before, you'll find things to be somewhat different from using the materials housed in the main stacks on the 1st and 8th floors of Jerome Library, including:

The bulk of the materials from these collections (with the exception of the Curriculum Resource Center, some Music Library materials, and Popular Culture DVDs) do not circulate and must be used on the floor where the collection is found.

When you come in to use a collection, you will be asked to store your belongings (back packs, purses, coats, and jackets, etc.) away from the materials you will be working on. This requirement is to protect the safety of our unique archival materials.

Notebooks and notes needed for research are allowed in the Reading Rooms.

Laptop computers, iPads, tablets, phones, and digital cameras are also permitted in the Special Collections' reading rooms for note taking and capturing digital images of materials. Digital imaging of some items may be restricted.

You will also be instructed to use pencil only—again, an effort to prevent damage to materials.

The Special Collections may have varying restrictions on whether you can eat and drink beverages while using archival materials, so be prepared to be asked to put away food or drinks with the rest of your belongings.

The reading rooms are the only part of their floors accessible to non-staff members. The storage areas are closed to public access for security and preservation purposes. Any materials needed by researchers will be brought into the reading rooms by a staff member or trained student assistant.

The exact order of materials in a folder and folders in a box must be maintained at all times. Inform a staff member or student assistant if a mistake in arrangement is discovered. Patrons, however, should not attempt to rearrange materials themselves.

Nothing should be placed on top of records. Books should not be leaned on.

No marks of any kind should be made in or on any collection materials.

Photocopying and digitization of materials is subject to the principles of fair use as designated by US copyright law. Special Collections staff reserve the right to restrict photocopying and digitization of materials that are exceptionally fragile or valuable.

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